Goosander

Goosander (Mergus merganser), a bird of the Duck family from Arctic and North Temperate regions, visiting Britain in the winter, some few breeding in Highland lochs. The adult male is a little over two feet long; the head and upper part of the neck are deep glossy green, forming a crest-like tuft at the crown; the back is black, fading into grey; the wings are black mixed with white, and the under is a warm buff. The female is a little smaller, with duller plumage. These birds live on fish, which they take by diving and hold easily in the serrated bill, the teeth-like edges of which have given rise in some parts of the country to the popular name of Saw-bills for these birds. [Merganser.]